Vote Smart provides easy access to congressional and state voting records and maintains a collection of key votes grouped by issue. Vote Smart uses the following criteria to select key votes:
Vote Smart provides a summary of the version of the bill text associated with each selected key vote. Our summaries are written by Vote Smart's staff and interns, who adhere to our strict policies and procedures in order to guarantee absolute impartiality and accuracy. They do not necessarily reflect the content of the final version of the bill, but rather the version voted on in that stage. While many procedural votes take place before a full chamber vote, our voting stages reflect the final reading of each chamber vote. Each key vote selection is reviewed by the project's community of advisors, who are political scientists and journalists from all fifty states.
For more information about the legislative process, see here.
| Date | State | Bill No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 13, 2009 | ND | HB 1036 | Workforce Safety and Insurance Premium Rate Regulation | Bill Passed - House (62 - 32) |
| Jan. 9, 2009 | IL | HR 1671 | Impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich | Resolution Passed - House (114 - 1) |
| Jan. 7, 2009 | MS | HB 290 | 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (87 - 34) |
| Dec. 19, 2008 | MI | SB 861 | Tuition Assistance for Students in High Poverty Areas | Bill Passed - House (61 - 34) |
| Dec. 18, 2008 | CA | ABx1 12 | Extending Tax Withholding Requirements to Payments to Independent Contractors | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28) |
| Dec. 18, 2008 | CA | ABx1 12 | Extending Tax Withholding Requirements to Payments to Independent Contractors | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28) |
| Dec. 18, 2008 | CA | ABx1 2 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Dec. 18, 2008 | CA | ABx1 8 | Amending Sentencing, Parole, and Property Crime Statutes | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| Dec. 18, 2008 | CA | ABx1 4 | Reducing Education Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| Dec. 18, 2008 | CA | ABx1 5 | Modifying Transportation Project Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| Dec. 18, 2008 | OH | HB 649 | Funding Veterans' Bonuses Using the Budget Stabilization Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
| Dec. 16, 2008 | OH | SB 380 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (55 - 43) |
| Dec. 16, 2008 | OH | HB 649 | Funding Veterans' Bonuses Using the Budget Stabilization Fund | Bill Passed - House (54 - 42) |
| Dec. 15, 2008 | NJ | S 1599 | Mortgage and Housing Assistance Programs | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| Dec. 15, 2008 | NJ | S 1599 | Mortgage and Housing Assistance Programs | Bill Passed - House (49 - 28) |
| Dec. 15, 2008 | NJ | A 3373 | Amending NJ STARS/NJ STARS II Scholarship Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4) |
| Dec. 15, 2008 | NJ | A 3373 | Amending NJ STARS/NJ STARS II Scholarship Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (63 - 10) |
| Dec. 11, 2008 | MI | HB 6610 | Presidential Election by Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (65 - 36) |
| Dec. 11, 2008 | MI | HB 4141 | Expanding the Use of School Sinking Funds | Bill Passed - House (71 - 28) |
| Dec. 10, 2008 | OH | HB 648 | Increasing Restrictions on Access to Confidential Personal Information | Bill Passed - House (69 - 26) |
| Dec. 10, 2008 | MI | SB 861 | Tuition Assistance for Students in High Poverty Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| Dec. 10, 2008 | OH | HB 648 | Increasing Restrictions on Access to Confidential Personal Information | Bill Passed - House (69 - 26) |
| Dec. 10, 2008 | OH | HB 648 | Increasing Restrictions on Access to Confidential Personal Information | Bill Passed - House (69 - 26) |
| Dec. 9, 2008 | OH | SB 380 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| Dec. 4, 2008 | MI | HB 4090 | Expanding Early Voting | Bill Passed - House (58 - 50) |
| Dec. 4, 2008 | MI | HB 4090 | Expanding Early Voting | Bill Passed - House (58 - 50) |
| Dec. 4, 2008 | MI | HB 4404 | Prohibiting Life Without Parole Sentencing for Juveniles | Bill Passed - House (59 - 47) |
| Dec. 4, 2008 | MI | HB 4405 | Juvenile Parole Eligibility Reform | Bill Passed - House (63 - 43) |
| Nov. 24, 2008 | NJ | A 3459 | Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
| Nov. 24, 2008 | NJ | A 3294 | Capital Investment and Employment Grants | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7) |
| Nov. 18, 2008 | NE | Amdt 4 | Establishing an Age Limit on Safe Haven Law | Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 26) |
| Nov. 18, 2008 | NE | Amdt 4 | Establishing an Age Limit on Safe Haven Law | Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 26) |
| Nov. 17, 2008 | NJ | A 3294 | Capital Investment and Employment Grants | Bill Passed - House (56 - 22) |
| Nov. 17, 2008 | NJ | A 3459 | Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (47 - 26) |
| Nov. 17, 2008 | NJ | A 3374 | Public Assistance Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (67 - 10) |
| Oct. 21, 2008 | SC | H Amdt 20 to H 5300 | Repealing Property Tax Exemption | Amendment Tabled - House (98 - 17) |
| Oct. 21, 2008 | SC | H Amdt 11 to H 5300 | Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities, Inc. Funding | Amendment Tabled - House (66 - 50) |
| Sept. 19, 2008 | CA | SBx1 28 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| Sept. 19, 2008 | CA | SBx1 28 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (43 - 30) |
| Sept. 16, 2008 | CA | AB 1781 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (61 - 11) |
| Sept. 16, 2008 | CA | AB 1781 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 11) |
| Sept. 16, 2008 | CA | AB 1452 | Suspending Carryback and Net Operating Loss Deductions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 21) |
| Sept. 16, 2008 | CA | AB 1452 | Suspending Carryback and Net Operating Loss Deductions | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| Sept. 16, 2008 | CA | SCA 12 | State Lottery Amendments | Joint Resolution Passed - House (63 - 14) |
| Sept. 16, 2008 | CA | SCA 12 | State Lottery Amendments | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| Sept. 9, 2008 | CA | SB 1087 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Failed - House (27 - 45) |
| Sept. 8, 2008 | CA | AB 1793 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 21) |
| Aug. 31, 2008 | CA | SB 1407 | Financing Courthouse Construction | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| Aug. 31, 2008 | CA | AB 2321 | Metro Sales Tax Increase | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 25) |
| Aug. 31, 2008 | CA | SB 1301 | Extending Student Financial Aid Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (46 - 29) |
| Date | No. | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/13 | HB 1036 | Workforce Safety and Insurance Premium Rate Regulation | Bill Passed - House (62 - 32) |
| 1/09 | HR 1671 | Impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich | Resolution Passed - House (114 - 1) |
| 1/07 | HB 290 | 2008-2009 Higher Education Budget | Bill Passed - House (87 - 34) |
| 12/19 | SB 861 | Tuition Assistance for Students in High Poverty Areas | Bill Passed - House (61 - 34) |
| 12/18 | ABx1 12 | Extending Tax Withholding Requirements to Payments to Independent Contractors | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28) |
| 12/18 | ABx1 12 | Extending Tax Withholding Requirements to Payments to Independent Contractors | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (47 - 28) |
| 12/18 | ABx1 2 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 12/18 | ABx1 8 | Amending Sentencing, Parole, and Property Crime Statutes | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 15) |
| 12/18 | ABx1 4 | Reducing Education Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (29 - 8) |
| 12/18 | ABx1 5 | Modifying Transportation Project Regulations | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 10) |
| 12/18 | HB 649 | Funding Veterans' Bonuses Using the Budget Stabilization Fund | Bill Passed - Senate (23 - 8) |
| 12/16 | SB 380 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (55 - 43) |
| 12/16 | HB 649 | Funding Veterans' Bonuses Using the Budget Stabilization Fund | Bill Passed - House (54 - 42) |
| 12/15 | S 1599 | Mortgage and Housing Assistance Programs | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (27 - 8) |
| 12/15 | S 1599 | Mortgage and Housing Assistance Programs | Bill Passed - House (49 - 28) |
| 12/15 | A 3373 | Amending NJ STARS/NJ STARS II Scholarship Eligibility | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 4) |
| 12/15 | A 3373 | Amending NJ STARS/NJ STARS II Scholarship Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (63 - 10) |
| 12/11 | HB 6610 | Presidential Election by Popular Vote | Bill Passed - House (65 - 36) |
| 12/11 | HB 4141 | Expanding the Use of School Sinking Funds | Bill Passed - House (71 - 28) |
| 12/10 | HB 648 | Increasing Restrictions on Access to Confidential Personal Information | Bill Passed - House (69 - 26) |
| 12/10 | SB 861 | Tuition Assistance for Students in High Poverty Areas | Bill Passed - Senate (24 - 13) |
| 12/10 | HB 648 | Increasing Restrictions on Access to Confidential Personal Information | Bill Passed - House (69 - 26) |
| 12/10 | HB 648 | Increasing Restrictions on Access to Confidential Personal Information | Bill Passed - House (69 - 26) |
| 12/09 | SB 380 | Election Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (19 - 11) |
| 12/04 | HB 4090 | Expanding Early Voting | Bill Passed - House (58 - 50) |
| 12/04 | HB 4090 | Expanding Early Voting | Bill Passed - House (58 - 50) |
| 12/04 | HB 4404 | Prohibiting Life Without Parole Sentencing for Juveniles | Bill Passed - House (59 - 47) |
| 12/04 | HB 4405 | Juvenile Parole Eligibility Reform | Bill Passed - House (63 - 43) |
| 11/24 | A 3459 | Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations | Bill Passed - Senate (30 - 9) |
| 11/24 | A 3294 | Capital Investment and Employment Grants | Bill Passed - Senate (33 - 7) |
| 11/18 | Amdt 4 | Establishing an Age Limit on Safe Haven Law | Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 26) |
| 11/18 | Amdt 4 | Establishing an Age Limit on Safe Haven Law | Amendment Rejected - Senate (23 - 26) |
| 11/17 | A 3294 | Capital Investment and Employment Grants | Bill Passed - House (56 - 22) |
| 11/17 | A 3459 | Foreclosure Assistance Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (47 - 26) |
| 11/17 | A 3374 | Public Assistance Appropriations | Bill Passed - House (67 - 10) |
| 10/21 | H Amdt 20 to H 5300 | Repealing Property Tax Exemption | Amendment Tabled - House (98 - 17) |
| 10/21 | H Amdt 11 to H 5300 | Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities, Inc. Funding | Amendment Tabled - House (66 - 50) |
| 9/19 | SBx1 28 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - Senate (22 - 14) |
| 9/19 | SBx1 28 | Tax Law Amendments | Bill Passed - House (43 - 30) |
| 9/16 | AB 1781 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - House (61 - 11) |
| 9/16 | AB 1781 | 2008-2009 Budget | Conference Report Adopted - Senate (29 - 11) |
| 9/16 | AB 1452 | Suspending Carryback and Net Operating Loss Deductions | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (55 - 21) |
| 9/16 | AB 1452 | Suspending Carryback and Net Operating Loss Deductions | Bill Passed - Senate (27 - 13) |
| 9/16 | SCA 12 | State Lottery Amendments | Joint Resolution Passed - House (63 - 14) |
| 9/16 | SCA 12 | State Lottery Amendments | Joint Resolution Passed - Senate (27 - 9) |
| 9/09 | SB 1087 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Failed - House (27 - 45) |
| 9/08 | AB 1793 | 2008-2009 Budget Amendments | Bill Failed - Senate (13 - 21) |
| 8/31 | SB 1407 | Financing Courthouse Construction | Concurrence Vote Passed - Senate (26 - 10) |
| 8/31 | AB 2321 | Metro Sales Tax Increase | Concurrence Vote Passed - House (49 - 25) |
| 8/31 | SB 1301 | Extending Student Financial Aid Eligibility | Bill Passed - House (46 - 29) |